Joey Hess wrote: > John Reiser wrote: > >>While using the Debian installer in low-memory mode to put a Debian system >>onto a NSLU2 (ARM processor with 32MB RAM), I noticed that the installer >>seemed slow. Running "ps" repeatedly in a concurrent session, I often >>saw about 80 processes per second, and many command lines of the form: >> [ <package1> = <package2> ] >>which tests if two package names are the same. I'm guessing that this is >>to construct a set represented as a list, such as a list of required >>packages with no duplicates. Doing this sequentially takes quadratic time. >>If '[' is built in to the shell, then it can be fast enough anyway. > > > It would help if you told us what stage of the installer this was > happening in or what the parent process was..
The busybox 'ps' does not display parent process ID. I re-ran the installation, with a shell in a concurrent session, taking notes. Here is an edited transcript of multiple 'ps' runs, with some comments about installation progress. Blank lines frequently indicate separate runs of ps, with same-as-previous content elided. Also note that the text-cell graphics of the low memory mode installer suffer from "no update on return." The last status message persists until it is replaced, so the last action of a loop or nested control often looks like it takes much longer than it actually does, because the first following graphical update might not occur soon. This is another thing that should be fixed. ===== --| Installing the base system |-- ~ # ps PID Uid VmSize Stat Command 1 root 452 S init 2 root SWN [ksoftirqd/0] 3 root SW< [events/0] 4 root SW< [khelper] 5 root SW< [kthread] 15 root SW< [kblockd/0] 49 root SW [pdflush] 50 root SW [pdflush] 52 root SW< [aio/0] 51 root SW [kswapd0] 569 root SW< [kseriod] 604 root SW [mtdblockd] 693 root 368 S < udevd --daemon 2502 root 384 S /sbin/syslogd -m 0 -O /var/log/syslog -S 2505 root 368 S /sbin/klogd -c 2 2914 root DW [IxOsal 1] 2918 root SW< [ixp400_eth] 2919 root SW< [ixp400_eth] 2923 root 496 S /bin/sh /sbin/debian-installer 2942 root 1376 S debconf -o d-i /usr/bin/main-menu 2943 root 544 S /usr/bin/main-menu 3171 root SW< [khubd] 7003 root SW [ixp400 eth0] 7024 root 448 S udpkg --configure --force-configure network-console 7025 root 488 S /bin/sh /var/lib/dpkg/info/network-console.postinst configure 7054 root 792 S /usr/sbin/sshd 7075 root 1652 S sshd: [EMAIL PROTECTED]/0 7078 root 492 S /bin/sh /sbin/debian-installer /bin/network-console-menu 7092 root 1812 S debconf -o d-i /bin/network-console-menu 7093 root 568 S main-menu 7428 root 1652 S sshd: [EMAIL PROTECTED]/1 7526 root 492 S /bin/sh /sbin/debian-installer /bin/network-console-menu 7556 root 1476 S debconf -o d-i /bin/network-console-menu 7557 root 452 S udpkg --configure --force-configure di-utils-shell 7637 root 484 S /bin/sh -e /var/lib/dpkg/info/di-utils-shell.postinst configure 7758 root 472 S /bin/sh -e /bin/debconf-disconnect /bin/sh 7759 root 520 S /bin/sh 9251 root SW< [scsi_eh_0] 9254 root SW< [usb-storage] 20212 root SW [kjournald] 24079 root 580 S udpkg --configure --force-configure base-installer 24080 root 640 S /bin/sh /var/lib/dpkg/info/base-installer.postinst configure 24209 root 388 S log-output -t debootstrap run-debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target h 24210 root 536 S run-debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target http://debian.osuosl.org/de 24211 root 668 S /bin/sh -e /usr/sbin/debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target http://deb 24314 root 348 S /bin/sh -e /usr/sbin/debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target http://deb 24316 root 400 S /bin/sh -e /usr/sbin/debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target http://deb 24426 root 228 R [ contrib/binary-mipsel/Packages.gz = main/binary-arm/Packages ] 24427 root 532 R ps ~ # Installing the base system; Validating zlib1g... [This is obviously a status message that persists long after it should vanish.] ~ # ps PID Uid VmSize Stat Command 1 root 452 S init 2 root SWN [ksoftirqd/0] 3 root SW< [events/0] 4 root SW< [khelper] 5 root SW< [kthread] 15 root SW< [kblockd/0] 49 root SW [pdflush] 50 root SW [pdflush] 52 root SW< [aio/0] 51 root SW [kswapd0] 569 root SW< [kseriod] 604 root SW [mtdblockd] 693 root 364 S < udevd --daemon 2502 root 384 S /sbin/syslogd -m 0 -O /var/log/syslog -S 2505 root 364 S /sbin/klogd -c 2 2914 root DW [IxOsal 1] 2918 root SW< [ixp400_eth] 2919 root SW< [ixp400_eth] 2923 root 496 S /bin/sh /sbin/debian-installer 2942 root 1376 S debconf -o d-i /usr/bin/main-menu 2943 root 544 S /usr/bin/main-menu 3171 root SW< [khubd] 7003 root SW [ixp400 eth0] 7024 root 448 S udpkg --configure --force-configure network-console 7025 root 488 S /bin/sh /var/lib/dpkg/info/network-console.postinst configure 7054 root 712 S /usr/sbin/sshd 7075 root 1652 S sshd: [EMAIL PROTECTED]/0 7078 root 492 S /bin/sh /sbin/debian-installer /bin/network-console-menu 7092 root 1836 S debconf -o d-i /bin/network-console-menu 7093 root 568 S main-menu 7428 root 1532 S sshd: [EMAIL PROTECTED]/1 7526 root 424 S /bin/sh /sbin/debian-installer /bin/network-console-menu 7556 root 888 S debconf -o d-i /bin/network-console-menu 7557 root 360 S udpkg --configure --force-configure di-utils-shell 7637 root 412 S /bin/sh -e /var/lib/dpkg/info/di-utils-shell.postinst configure 7758 root 412 S /bin/sh -e /bin/debconf-disconnect /bin/sh 7759 root 504 S /bin/sh 9251 root SW< [scsi_eh_0] 9254 root SW< [usb-storage] 20212 root SW [kjournald] 24079 root 580 S udpkg --configure --force-configure base-installer 24080 root 640 S /bin/sh /var/lib/dpkg/info/base-installer.postinst configure 24209 root 388 S log-output -t debootstrap run-debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target h 24210 root 708 S run-debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target http://debian.osuosl.org/de 24211 root 676 S /bin/sh -e /usr/sbin/debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target http://deb 30985 root 416 S /bin/sh -e /usr/sbin/debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target http://deb 30986 root 296 S /bin/sh -e /usr/sbin/debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target http://deb 30987 root 328 R /bin/sh -e /usr/sbin/debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target http://deb 32469 root 144 R [ base-passwd = gcc-4.1-base ] 4440 root 188 R [ util-linux = mount ] 5666 root 204 R [ sysv-rc = tcpd ] [Then: Extracting <pkg>...] [Then: Installing core packages...] 20212 root SW [kjournald] 24079 root 580 S udpkg --configure --force-configure base-installer 24080 root 640 S /bin/sh /var/lib/dpkg/info/base-installer.postinst configure 24209 root 496 S log-output -t debootstrap run-debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target h 24210 root 752 S run-debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target http://debian.osuosl.org/de 24211 root 676 S /bin/sh -e /usr/sbin/debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target http://deb 7757 root 404 R /bin/sh -e /usr/sbin/debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target http://deb 7761 root 344 S /bin/sh -e /usr/sbin/debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target http://deb 7762 root 280 S /bin/sh -e /usr/sbin/debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target http://deb 7763 root 328 S /bin/sh -e /usr/sbin/debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target http://deb 7806 root 112 R [ dpkg = e2fslibs ] 7808 root 236 R echo 7809 root 532 R ps ~ # [Then: Unpacking required packages...] @ 34% 20212 root SW [kjournald] 24079 root 580 S udpkg --configure --force-configure base-installer 24080 root 640 S /bin/sh /var/lib/dpkg/info/base-installer.postinst configure 24209 root 496 S log-output -t debootstrap run-debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target h 24210 root 752 S run-debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target http://debian.osuosl.org/de 24211 root 676 S /bin/sh -e /usr/sbin/debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target http://deb 10011 root 404 R /bin/sh -e /usr/sbin/debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target http://deb 10013 root 360 S /bin/sh -e /usr/sbin/debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target http://deb 10014 root 412 S /bin/sh -e /usr/sbin/debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target http://deb 10015 root 300 S /bin/sh -e /usr/sbin/debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target http://deb 10016 root 328 S /bin/sh -e /usr/sbin/debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target http://deb 10894 root 80 R [ libattr1 = bsdmainutils ] 10898 root 228 R echo 14385 root 52 R [ libslang2 = klogd ] 15410 root 76 R [ dpkg = libconsole ] 16378 root 84 R [ e2fsprogs = libgnutls13 ] 16382 root 168 R echo 17112 root 108 R [ libattr1 = libncurses5 ] 17118 root 236 R /bin/sh -e /usr/sbin/debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target http://deb 17637 root 12 R [ ncurses-bin = libpam-modules ] 17641 root 232 R echo 18410 root 140 R [ dpkg = libsepol1 ] 18418 root 228 R echo 19527 root 108 R [ libslang2 = libtext-charwidth-perl ] ~ # 24079 root 580 S udpkg --configure --force-configure base-installer 24080 root 640 S /bin/sh /var/lib/dpkg/info/base-installer.postinst configure 24209 root 496 S log-output -t debootstrap run-debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target h 24210 root 752 S run-debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target http://debian.osuosl.org/de 24211 root 676 S /bin/sh -e /usr/sbin/debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target http://deb 10011 root 404 S /bin/sh -e /usr/sbin/debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target http://deb 10013 root 360 S /bin/sh -e /usr/sbin/debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target http://deb 10014 root 412 S /bin/sh -e /usr/sbin/debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target http://deb 10015 root 300 S /bin/sh -e /usr/sbin/debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target http://deb 10016 root 328 R /bin/sh -e /usr/sbin/debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target http://deb 22788 root 192 R /bin/sh -e /usr/sbin/debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target http://deb 22789 root 164 R [ base-passwd = procps ] 24266 root 276 R /bin/sh -e /usr/sbin/debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target http://deb 24269 root 532 R ps 24272 root 132 R [ hostname = wget ] [Then: Unpacking <pkg>...] [Then: Unpacking the base system...] @ 48% 20212 root SW [kjournald] 24079 root 580 S udpkg --configure --force-configure base-installer 24080 root 640 S /bin/sh /var/lib/dpkg/info/base-installer.postinst configure 24209 root 496 S log-output -t debootstrap run-debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target h 24210 root 840 S run-debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target http://debian.osuosl.org/de 24211 root 676 S /bin/sh -e /usr/sbin/debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target http://deb 2540 root 404 S /bin/sh -e /usr/sbin/debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target http://deb 2542 root 360 S /bin/sh -e /usr/sbin/debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target http://deb 2543 root 412 S /bin/sh -e /usr/sbin/debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target http://deb 2544 root 300 S /bin/sh -e /usr/sbin/debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target http://deb 2545 root 328 R /bin/sh -e /usr/sbin/debootstrap --components=main --debian-installer --resolve-deps etch /target http://deb 3427 root 108 R echo 3430 root 136 R [ libncursesw5 = bsdmainutils ] 4521 root 228 R [ nano = diff ] 5811 root 196 R [ man-db = grep ] 9100 root 108 R [ bsdmainutils = libldap2 ] 10361 root 228 R [ man-db = libpam0g ] 11713 root 104 R [ whiptail = libstdc++6 ] 12223 root 96 R [ iputils-ping = libtext-wrapi18n-perl ] 12826 root 220 R [ iputils-ping = logrotate ] 14132 root 188 R [ adduser = ncurses-base ] 14966 root 108 R [ tcpd = nvi ] 15688 root 92 R [ wget = sed ] 16110 root 128 R [ libldap2 = tar ] 16533 root 44 R [ wget = traceroute ] 17055 root 236 R [ libconsole = zlib1g ] [Then: Unpacking <pkg>...] @ 50% ===== -- -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". 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